Green Trees Halpin House & Gardens

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9Z' rgr'2/ /kfrzson 77lal In gl 6-Profile by Mary Schuster Lufkin There is no doubt that Margaret Widowed in 1944, Margret Several people mentioned Mrs. Atkinson Halpin was endowed became president of the store, Halpin's uncanny ability to see with extraordinary intelligence and associates say that even and remember colors. On buying and energy. The quality of her though she had no major trips to New York it was not "intuitive" or "instinctive" business experience,her "radiant unusual for her to see a designer judgements cannot be accounted refinement, regal appearance dress,close her eyes to reflect a for in any other way. and ability to listen carefully and moment, then open them and learn quickly" helped with the say, "it's all wrong." The This profile is based on many in- continued success of the store.A designer would then listen to terviews with friends,relatives, trendsetter who wrote(with the what Margret felt would improve and business associates of Mrs. help of a ghost-writer)a column the design or color and would Halpin. in the Minneapolis Star, Mrs. produce it to her specifications. Halpin had a knack for fusing Her knowledge and appreciation Everyone recalling Mrs. Halpin her artistic flair with her growing of style seemed instinctive, yet agrees that she was a woman of business expertise. she worked hard at it. "excellent taste," who loved beauty and saw to it that she was One former employee who "en- One of Mrs. Halpin's sons, Ef- surrounded by it. Her study of joyed Margret from the first day fert, died in World War II. The the arts was deliberate and con- I knew her," added that Mrs. other, Harold M. Atkinson, tinued until her death in 1978 at Halpin did everything became president of Harold,Inc. age 84. thoroughly, "from the bottom when she became chairman of up," and that her elegance was the board. Mr. and Mrs.Halpin She also had an active interest in "more than good taste;she simp- traveled often and Margret con- music. In her earlier years, she ly appreciated everything that tinued to do so after George's studied voice with a student of was pretty." death in 1959. Amelita Galla-Curci. Mrs. Halpin's naturally clear soprano Two years after Harold Atkin- A devout Christian Scientist, voice impressed many. Mrs. son's death, Margret married Mrs.Halpin was nevertheless a Halpin served on the National George Halpin, a 3M executive. board member of Northwestern Council of the Metropolitan They lived summers in a remod- Hospital in Minneapolis. As she Opera Association. She was as eled farmhouse on the present grew older,she chose to recount generous with her time in the site of "Green Trees." When a only "the beauty in life" and community as she was with her fire destroyed it, the Halpins continued to surround herself friends and associates. chose Karl Humphrey, Jr., to with it. Her many friends recall design "Green Trees." Mrs. her regular attendance at the The daughter of a dentist, Mrs. Halpin used her well-known ex- Minnesota Orchestra, of which Halpin married Harold Atkin- quisite taste to combine old and she was a Guarantor. Spending son, son of a Minneapolis mer- new furniture, art, and fabric her winters in Florida,she made chant,in her late teens.They had in making the home look much it a point to return for Opera four children; Effert, Harold as it does today. Week in May. She surrounded M., Margaret (now Mrs. herself with friends and family, Frederick Kammer)and Frances Frequent travels increased the and she reveled in social and civic Hewett. When her Halpins' knowledge and appre- functions. Her glamour and father-in-law's store was sold to ciation of art as their collection warmth made her a welcome a New York firm, she and her grew.One old friend remembers guest wherever she went. husband started Harold, Inc., that "when Margret saw the an haute couture store for wo- Louvre for the first time,she was men, on Nicollet Avenue in thrilled." He went on to say, downtown Minneapolis. The "she bought many books and year was 1933. made it her business to learn a great deal about art and music." 6